The best tripod with integrated head
"TSUBAME" is a classic model of tripod for photography. Its robustness, timeless design, and reliable operability continue to be a favorite even now, more than 60 years after its release in Japan. As the world's first duralumin tripod and the world's first tripod with an elevator, it became the prototype for all subsequent tripods. It boasts overwhelming support from professional photographers and can truly be called a classic.
The construction of the head itself is also excellent, and while it sounds simple to describe, it "moves smoothly and stops precisely," but very few heads are able to achieve this. Another major factor contributing to ease of use is that there is minimal deviation when you tighten the screws after deciding on the composition. You can truly experience the world's best level of "movement" and "stopping."
There are many camera products on the market that are simply labeled "for professional use," but how many of these products are truly highly rated by professional photographers and are actually used in a variety of settings across the country, such as photo studios, wedding halls, school photographers, and food and product
Continues to be refined over time
The TSUBAME tripod has never undergone a so-called full model change in over 60 years since its official debut in Japan as the HUSKY in 1963. Repeated irrational model changes, such as new parts not fitting old tripods, don't necessarily lead to positive results.
However, small quality improvements continue to this day. When a tripod comes in for an overhaul, we examine the condition of the tripod and, if the screw threads are significantly worn, we review the material. If the plating is not strong enough, we change the method or thickness, and reconsider the length and thickness of small screws. These constant refinements over the course of over 60 years have established the current quality.
Aluminum alloy legs
While carbon fiber is currently the mainstream material for the leg pipes, we deliberately use a carefully selected, top-quality aluminum alloy to achieve both high rigidity and light weight, essential for location shooting. Each section of the pipe is machined using a specialized machine to create a single piece of metal, something that is impossible with carbon pipes. There is no need to worry about cracks or peeling adhesive, and the excellent durability and reliability are guaranteed. And yet, the actual weight is lighter than other companies' aluminum tripods and comparable to that of carbon tripods.
In a market dominated by tripods with separable legs and heads, we decided to stick with integrated models because they eliminate the need to worry about the head coming off during transport or shooting, and are lighter and more rigid than separable tripods.
All from a professional shooting location
Manufacturing was taken over from Quickset in the US to Toyo Trading Co., Ltd., in Japan, and has been fully transferred to Studio Jin since 2022. Rather than simply using cheap parts from overseas, we use the highest quality materials and pursue precision machining, producing all parts domestically in Japan, right down to the last screw. Naturally, assembly is also carried out in domestic factories, with strict quality control. This also means that all parts are available as replacement parts, giving you peace of mind knowing that if necessary, a complete overhaul can be carried out at any time to restore the functionality of a new product.
It's become commonplace for us to receive requests to repair tripods that were produced 20 or 30 years ago, but because the size of the basic parts has not changed, all of these tripods can be repaired without any problems using current, new parts. Looking at all industrial products, it's rare to find a product that has grown in this way over such a long period of time. All of this is nothing less than the embodiment of the quality and after-sales service that professional photographers demand. There is a good reason why this tripod has been chosen and used by professional photographers for generations.
Specification table
| Model Number | Model Name | Shorten length | Lowest leg height | Maximum leg height | EV increase | Total Maximum Height | Weight | Load capacity (dynamic load) |
| HT-1030 | 3 Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 793mm | 750mm | 1593mm | 375mm | 1968mm | 3580g | 10kg |
| HT-1040 | ４ Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 838mm | 792mm | 2118mm | 375mm | 2493mm | 4010g | 10kg |
| HT-1050 | 5 Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 881mm | 831mm | 2681mm | 375mm | 3056mm | 4380g | 10kg |
| HT-1031 | Semi-Short 3 Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 666mm | 633mm | 1240mm | 265mm | 1505mm | 3220g | 10kg |
| HT-1041 | Semi-Short 4 Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 712mm | 675mm | 1649mm | 265mm | 1914mm | 3580g | 10kg |
| HT-1042 | Short 4 Sec. Tripod w/3D head | 587mm | 555mm | 1186mm | 210mm | 1396mm | 3210g | 10kg |
*The dimensions and weight in the specifications table are calculated values using CAD and are roughly consistent with the actual measurements, but there may be slight individual differences.
*TSUBAME tripods are manufactured with the assumption that they will be used by professional photographers for 10 or 20 years at that frequency. For that reason, some parts are made with materials that prioritize durability, and when you first start using them, you may notice a stiffness in movement, or the legs may not lock in place properly, causing a slippery feeling. These issues will likely go away as the parts become more familiar with each other, so we hope you will enjoy using them for a long time.
It's only when each part has become familiar that it becomes a true TSUBAME. The words "for Professional" are not just for show.